worsen
gb/wˈɚsən/ us/wˈɚsən/
B1
English
~ 7800
romlik, rosszabbodik, súlyosbodik, ront, rosszabbá tesz, súlyosbít
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] worsens
Her breathing worsened during the night, so they called an ambulance.
Éjszaka romlott a légzése, ezért mentőt hívtak.
Relations between the two countries have worsened in recent months.
Az elmúlt hónapokban romlottak a két ország közötti kapcsolatok.
Traffic has worsened since the new shopping center opened.
The drought worsened as the dry season went on.
If the pain worsens, you should see a doctor immediately.
Learner examples
My cough worsened after I went outside.
Miután kimentem a szabadba, rosszabbodott a köhögésem.
The weather worsened in the afternoon.
Délután romlott az idő.
His grades worsened this year.
The noise worsened as more people came.
If your headache worsens, take a break.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"more worse"* instead of using "worse" or the verb "worsen". Use "worsen" as a verb (e.g., "His condition worsened"), and use "worse" as an adjective or adverb (e.g., "His condition is worse"). They also often overuse "get worse" and avoid "worsen"; both are correct, but "worsen" is more formal and common in writing.
Meaning
to become worse
Collocations
health worsens
|condition worsens
|symptoms worsen
|situation worsens
|weather worsens
|conflict worsens
Synonyms
deteriorate (More formal and often used for health, conditions, or quality slowly becoming worse.)
|
decline (Suggests a gradual loss of strength, quality, or importance over time.)
|
get worse (More informal, everyday phrase with the same basic meaning.)
Antonyms
improve (Describes something becoming better instead of worse.)
|
get better (Everyday expression for the opposite change, especially with health or situations.)
Themes
health
|change
|problems
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To get worse than before.
To become more serious, more severe, or of lower quality than before.
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to worsen [something]
Cutting public transport could worsen traffic in the city center.
A tömegközlekedés csökkentése ronthatja a belvárosi forgalmi helyzetet.
Smoking can worsen asthma and other breathing problems.
A dohányzás súlyosbíthatja az asztmát és más légzési problémákat.
The new tax rules may worsen inequality between rich and poor.
Lying about the mistake only worsened the situation.
If you keep walking on that injury, you’ll worsen it.
Learner examples
The cold air can worsen your cough.
A hideg levegő ronthat a köhögéseden.
His rude words worsened the argument.
Durva szavai még rosszabbá tették a vitát.
Adding more tasks will worsen our stress.
Pollution worsens the air in big cities.
Too much salt can worsen heart problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"make more worse"* instead of using "worsen" or simply "make worse" (e.g., say "This will worsen the problem" or "This will make the problem worse"). They may also use "worsen" with a person directly (e.g., *"The news worsened me"*), which is incorrect; you worsen a situation, condition, or feeling, not a person.
Meaning
to make something worse
Collocations
worsen the situation
|worsen the problem
|worsen tensions
|worsen symptoms
|worsen inequality
|worsen climate change
Synonyms
exacerbate (More formal; often used for problems or negative situations becoming much more serious.)
|
aggravate (Common in both everyday and formal English for making a bad condition or situation more severe.)
|
intensify (Focuses on increasing the strength of something, not always negative, but often used for problems or conflicts.)
Antonyms
improve (Means to make something better instead of worse.)
|
alleviate (Means to make a problem or pain less severe, the opposite of making it more severe.)
Themes
problems
|change
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a problem, condition, or situation worse.
To cause something to become more serious, more severe, or of lower quality than it was before.
Grammar
Dictionary form
worsen
IPA
GB/wˈɚsən/
US/wˈɚsən/
Syllables & stress
worsen (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (worsen)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: worsen
- 3rd Person Singular: worsens
- Present Participle: worsening
- Past: worsened
Word family
Forms
worsens
verb
worsening
verb
worsened
verb
Core family
worse
adjective A2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.